Golf game apparatus



June 23, 1970 F. E. KUESTER ET AL 3,516,675

GOLF GAME APPARATUS Filed May 13, 1966 ig??? opix/fgn L 0 .51 2/617 Zora W%' OPEN 6ELLD FOAM H 1 v /MP/?6NA r50 WITH W I PRESSURE SENSITIVE m 1 7 g M ADI/E57 VE United States Patent 3,516,675 GOLF GAME APPARATUS Frank E. Kuester, Richard A. Clark, and Kenneth J. Gregory, Muskegon, Mich., assignors to Brunswick Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 13, 1966, Ser. No. 549,851 Int. Cl. A63b 67/02, 69/36 U.S. Cl. 273-176 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE heal leaving no evidence of the point of impact. In th\. J 0

exemplary embodiment, the compactible material is formed of an open celled foam and the layer of energy absorbing material is formed of a composite layer of a rubber having a hysteresis loss backed by a layer of open celled foam. Golf balls rebound from the target at a very low velocity to adjacent the tee area. By algebraically combining numbers designating different zones on the target and adjacent the tee area, a golfer is able to determine the direction from the tee the shot would have terminated had it not encountered the target. A meter is provided to indicate the distance each ball would have traveled.

In many games, and particularly in games such as golf, it is desirable to provide a target for receiving a missile propelled thereat by a person playing the game and for providing an indication of the point of impact of the missile on the target. Preferably, such targets are arranged to include means for erasing the indication of the point of impact such that indications of the points of impact of subsequently propelled missiles will not be confused with the indication of the points of impact of preceding missiles. In order to provide such an erasing feature, the prior art has generally utilized the so-called magic slate effect by providing a relatively rigid backing and a transparent flexible sheet with a suitable material at the interface between the backing and the sheet such that the flexible sheet will adhere to the backing at the point of impact of a missile and providing a perceptible indication. In order to erase the indication, it is necessary to separate the sheet from the backing. Such separation is generally accomplished by having the person playing the game manually grasp the sheet and pull it away from the backing or by having such a person cause separation through a suitable linkage. In any event, a definite physical act on the part of the person playing the game or an observer is required to remove the indication which may provide an undesirable break in the concentration of the player of the game. Furthermore, the relative complexity of construction and lack of durability of magic slate targets are undesirable features accompanying their use.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved target that provides a temporary indication of the point of impact of a missile thereon.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a target formed of a composition that provides an indication of the point of impact of a missile thereon for a predetermined time period and thereafter heals to erase the indication without requiring a physical act on the part of the person who is directing missiles at the target.

Another object is the provision of a target such as that mentioned in the preceding paragraph wherein the material is formed of a sheet of an inherently resilient, compactible material that is at least partially coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive such that the impact of the missile thereon will cause the sheet to be compacted to provide the indication in the form of an indentation, which indentation will remain in the sheet by virtue of the pressure sensitive adhesive holding the compacted portion of the sheet in a compacted condition until the inherent resilience of the sheet overcomes the holding force of the pressure sensitive adhesive.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a target formed of a sheet such as that described in the preceding paragraph wherein the sheet is comprised of an open celled foam impregnated with the pressure sensitive adhesive.

Yet another object is the provision of a target such as that described above wherein the sheet is mounted on a layer of energy absorbing material which, in turn, is mounted on a rigid frame.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a target such as that mentioned in the preceding para graph wherein the energy absorbing material is formed of a first layer of open celled foam having a thickness of not less than about one inch and a second layer of a rubber-like material having a thickness not less than about one-half inch and the sheet has a thickness of not more than about one-half inch such that the target is ideally suited for use in a golf game.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one environment, namely a golf game, in which a target made according to the invention may be used; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical section illustrating the makeup of the target.

An exemplary use of the target made according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The golf game includes a platform forming a tee, generally designated 10, from which a golfer may hit a ball towards an exemplary form of a target, generally designated 12, made according to the invention. Abutting the tee 10 is a second platform 14 on which a golfer may stand to drive a ball placed on the tee towards the target 12. The target 12 is mounted in an upright manner on a base 14 and interposed between the base 14 and the tee 10 are a plurality of platforms 16 which may be used for putting purposes. Upright arms 18 are mounted on the rear side of the target 12 for supporting nets 20 which are adapted to receive and stop any ball hit from the tee 10 and missing the target 12.

In order to provide the golfer with information about each shot hit from the tee 10 into the target 12, there is provided a meter 22 which indicates the distance each shot would have traveled had it not hit the target 12. Additionally, to provide direction information, the facing of the target 12 is divided into a plurality of zones 24 and includes a plurality of indicia 26 which are used to characterize the position of the zone in which a ball hit from the tee 10 impacts on the target 12.

Spin detecting means, generally 28, are placed on the tee 10 and include a plurality of zones 30 which are characterized by indicia 32. As'will be seen, the construction of the target 12 is such that a golf ball driven from the tee 10 will rebound from the target 12 at a very low velocity through the zones 30 of the spin detecting means 28, and the indicia 32 characterizing the zone 30 3 through which the ball rolled may be algebraically com bined with certain of the indicia 26 to enable a golfer to determine the direction from the tee the shot would have terminated had it not encountered the target 12. The meter 22 provides distance information such that the golfer may determine every characteristic of his shot.

Since the target 12 must cause a ball hit from the tee 10 to rebound to the spin detecting means 28, it will be apparent that some means in conjunction with the target 12 must be provided for indicating the point of impact of a ball thereon for a sufficient time to enable the golfer to ascertain the particular one of the zones 24 in which the ball impacted. In order to provide such an indication, the target 12 is formed of a sheet of material that is indented by the ball colliding therewith and the indentation in the target 12 is maintained for a period of time sufficient to enable the golfer to ascertain the point of impact by observing the position of the indentation. The composition of the target material is such that after a predetermined time period, the indentation will disappear so that the golfer will not confuse the point of impact of a previous shot with the point of impact of a subsequent shot and make an erroneous determination of the direction of a shot.

In order to provide such functions, the target 12 is fabricated in a plurality of layers as seen in FIG. 2. Specifically, the target includes a backing 34 formed of steel or other suitable materials and which serves as a support for the remainder of the structure forming the target. A sheet 36 of an open celled foam is secured to the side of the steel backing 34 facing the tee 10. Adhered to the foam sheet 36 is a sheet 38 of butyl rubber, which in turn, supports a second sheet 40 of an open celled foam that is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive. The coated foam sheet 40 is covered with cloth 42 or the like. When cloth 42 is used, a strong jersey-like material is preferred because of the durability thereof.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the physical arrangement of the target 12 and tee 10 that a ball hit from the tee 10 towards the target 12 must rebound therefrom a sufiicient distance such that spin may be determined. Furthermore, it will be apparent that such a rebound must be at a low velocity for two reasons. In the first place, if the ball rebounds at a high velocity, it is likely to strike a golfer and injure him. In the second place, even though the ball may rebound at a sufficiently low velocity such that it will not injure a golfer if it strikes him, it may pass through the zones so quickly as to prevent the golfer from determining through which of the zones 30 the ball passed thereby precluding the golfer from determining the spin characteristic of the shot. Accordingly, it is desirable that the collision of a ball with the target 12 be sufficiently inelastic so as to preclude the ball from rebounding at a high velocity such that it might injure a golfer or preclude a determination of the spin characteristic but yet be sufficiently elastic so that the ball will at least return to the zones 30 so that the spin characteristic may be determined.

It has been found that an optimum ball rebound velocity is of a speed not unlike that, at most, of the initial velocity of a long putt. Such an optimum ball rebound velocity will cause a ball striking the target 12 to drop quickly to the ball return surfaces provided by either the base 14 or the putting platform 16 and substantially roll, as opposed to bounce, through the zones 30.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, such optimum ball rebound velocities may be obtained by forming the two foam sheets 36 and of an inherently resilient open celled polyurethane foam, the sheet 36 being about two inches thick while the sheet 40 is about onequarter of an inch thick. The butyl rubber sheet 38 may be about one inch thick and composed of any butyl rubber composition having a sufficiently high hysteresis loss so that a collision of the golf ball and the target will be sufficiently inelastic so that the ball, whether TABLE I Butyl 365 100.0 MPC black 10.0 Stearic acid 3.0 Zinc oxide 5.0 Benzothiazyl disulfide 0.5 Tellurium diethyldithiocarbamate 0.5 Tetramethyl thiuram disulfide 1.0 Sulphur 2.0

1 A trade name for a copolymer of isobutyleue and isoprene manufactured by the Enjay Co.

In order to coat the foam sheet 40 with a pressure sensitive adhesive, it is only necessary to dip the foam layer 40 into a solution of a suitable pressure sensitive adhesive. After dipping, the excess adhesive is permitted to drain off and the foam is air dried for twenty-four hours.

A suitable pressure sensitive adhesive may be selected from the formulations given in the following table.

TABLE 11 Percent Formula. Formula Formula Formula Vistanex L* Vistanex LM/MH* Vistanex LM/MS* Solvent (toluene) *TrademarkEnjay 00.

When the foam sheet 40 is impregnated with a pressure sensitive adhesive solution such as those described above, the collision of a ball therewith will cause compression of the foam layer at the point of impact thereby causing the cell walls of the foam to contact each other. The presence of the pressure sensitive adhesive in the foam will cause the now abutting cell walls to stick togther to provide an indentation perceptible to the golfer while the resiliency of the foam will tend to restore the foam to its normal, pre-impact shape not withstanding the presence of the pressure sensitive adhesive. Since the pressure sensitive adhesive solutions are relatively weak, the restoring force caused by the inherent resiliency of the foam will gradually overcome the adhering force of the pressure sensitive adhesive and after a short period of time, the foam sheet 40 will be restored to its normal shape thus eliminating any evidence of an impact by a ball. For most purposes, Formula 4 above offers the optimum restoration time which is in the neighborhood of ten to thirty seconds. Formula 3 above provides a slightly longer restoration time. If for any reason it is desired to have an even longer restoration time, then a pressure sensitive adhesive according to Formulas 1 or 2 may be used.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above adhesive systems are based upon Vistanex (trademark, Enjay Co.) resins which are basically polyisobutylene polymers. Such polymer systems are particularly ideal because of the excellent aging characteristics thereof and their resistance to oxygen and ozone attack. However, in the event such characteristics are not required, it will be apparent that many other pressure sensitive adhesive sys terns may be used in place thereof.

As mentioned previously, the exemplary form of the invention contemplates a two inch thickness for the sheet 36 and a one inch thickness of the sheet 38. When the target is used as a target in a golf game, it has been found that thicknesses of the rubber sheet 38 less than one-half inch may not absorb a sufiicient amount of the kinetic energy of the ball to preclude a high speed rebound. It has also been determined that when the foam sheet 36 has a thickness of less than one inch, high velocity golf shots (such as those hit by a driver) tends to cause the rubber sheet 38 to bottom out through the foam sheet 82 against the backing 34 thus increasing the elasticity of the collision of the golf ball thereby causing the golf ball to rebound at a velocity somewhat greater than is desirable. Similarly, if the foam sheet 40 is too thick (as, for example, more than one-half inch) a golf ball will tend to become imbedded therein upon impact such that side spin thereon cannot be properly measured. Thus, it will be apparent that when the target 12 is used in the golf game, the thickness of the sheet 36 should be at least one inch and the thickness of the sheet 38 sould be at least one-half inch. It should also be noted that it is preferable that the foams used in comprising the sheets 36 and 40 be of the open celled variety to preclude air compression in the cells thereof during the collision of a ball therewith from increasing the elasticity of the collision.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the invention provides a self-healing target for use in games wherein a missile is propelled at a target for providing a temporary indication of the point of impact of the missile on the target and which does not require any effort on the part of the player of the game or a bystander to remove the indication of the point of impact prior to a subsequent propelling of a missile toward the target. Furthermore, it will be apparent that by varying the formula of the pressure sensitive adhesive used or by increasing or decreasing the strength of each formula by suitably manipulating the solvent to adhesive ratio, any desired restoration time may be obtained to suit the specific requirements of any game. Finally, the construction of the target without moving parts provides a structure having good wear characteristics and long life.

Having described a specific embodiment of our invention as required by 35 U.S.C. 112, we do not wish to be limited to the exact details set forth, but rather, to have our invention constructed broadly according to the true spirit as set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A target for receiving a missile and providing a temporary indication of the point of impact of the missile thereon comprising: a sheet of inherently resilient, compactible material defining a plurality of air spaces at least partially coated with a weak pressure sensitive adhesive, the resilience of said material and the strength of said adhesive being selected so that when a missile impacts upon said sheet, the air spaces at the point of impact will collapse and adjacent portion of said material will adhere together in a collapsed state due to the presence of the pressure sensitive adhesive while the inherent resiliency of the material will thereafter, gradually overcome the adhesion produced by the pressure sensitive adhesive and restore the sheet to its pre-impact shape, and means providing a support for said sheet for holding the latter in an approximately upright position so that missiles may be directed there at.

2. The target according to claim 1 wherein said support means comprise a frame providing a backing and a layer of energy absorbing material mounted on said backing; said sheet being mounted on said layer.

3. The target of claim 2 wherein said sheet of resilient, compactible material is comprised of an open celled foam.

4. The target of claim 2 wherein said layer of energy absorbing material comprises a layer of a rubber-like substance secured to a layer of a foamed substance.

5. The target of claim 2 wherein said layer of energy absorbing material comprises a first layer of an open celled foam of a thickness of not less than about an inch and a second layer of rubber-like material having athickness not less than about one-half inch; and said sheet of inherently resilient, compactible material comprises a relatively thin layer of an open celled foam impregnated with said pressure sensitive adhesive, and having a thickness of not more than about one-half inch whereby said target is ideally suited for use in a golf game.

6. The target of claim 5 wherein said first layer has a thickness of about two inches; said second layer has a thickness of about one inch; and said thin layer has a thickness of about one-fourth inch.

7. The target of claim '5 wherein said backing is rigid.

8. A game including a target according to claim 2 further including means providing an area spaced from said target from which a missile may be directed at said target.

9. The target of claim 2 wherein said backing is rigid.

10. The target of claim 2 including a cover sheet on the pressure sensitive surface of said sheet of inherently compactible material.

11. The target of claim 10 wherein said support means comprise a member backing said sheet.

12. The target of claim 2 further including means defining a plurality of target zones operatively associated with said sheet of inherently resilient, compactible material.

f 13. The target of claim 1 wherein said material is a 14. The target of claim 1 wherein said material is an open celled foam impregnated with said pressure sensitive adhesive.

15. The target of claim 1 further including means defining a plurality of target zones operatively associated with said sheet of inherently resilient, compactible material adjacent the pressure-sensitive surface and visible for defining the place of missile impact.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,989,542 1/1935 Boothman 273-182 3,128,627 4/ 1964 Harris 273 2,660,436 11/ 1953 Grossman.

3,037,776 6/ 1962 Younce.

3,244,419 4/ 1966 Lerman 273--l02 3,232,786 2/1966 Kellman.

3,262,827 7/1966 Kallander et a1.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.-R. 

